Baked Tomato Chowder

Ingredients

• 40 Premium saltine crackers, coarsely crushed
• 1/2 c. butter or margarine, melted
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 8 slices bacon
• 1 c. chopped zucchini or summer squash
• 1/2 c. diced scallions
• 1/2 c. julienned green pepper
• 5 c. peeled, seeded and chopped tomatoes or 29 oz. can whole tomatoes with juice
• 2 Tbsp. firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. dried basil leaves
• 1 tsp. dried oregano leaves
• 1 whole bay leaf
• 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
• 3 drops liquid hot pepper seasoning
• 1 c. shredded Colby-Jack cheese blend